Page 33 of The Long Way Found

Jack shrugged and grabbed his jacket. “I’ve been there," he said.

“Maybe you could tell me about it sometime,” Luke offered.

Jack looked him in the eye and smiled. “Thank you. I will sometime. But right now… let’s go eat!”

They walked across the quad together under cloudy skies.

Inside, the union hall was casual—counter service, wooden tables, and large windows overlooking the quad. A few faculty members nodded to Jack as they passed. One woman—with dark hair and sharp eyes—smiled a bit too long before looking away.

“You're a popular guy,” Luke said teasingly as he slid into a booth.

“Fresh meat," Jack joked, grabbing menus from behind the napkin holder. “The salads are good. Burgers are fine."

After they ordered, Luke noticed Jack settling into the booth, shoulders relaxed, jaw unclenched, and almost smiling. He seemed comfortable and content in this purpose and this setting.

“How’s the first real week going?” Luke asked.

“Good. Busy.” Jack took a drink of water. "The veterans program is the most interesting part. These kids... " He shook his head. "I’m glad places like this exist to help them.”

After their food arrived, they ate in easy silence for a while, the kind that didn’t need filling.

“This is good,” Luke said, meaning the food, but also the ease of it, the pleasure of sitting across from Jack on a Tuesday, talking about nothing and everything.

“Yeah,” Jack said, and Luke wondered if he meant the same thing.

“I got some news this morning,” Luke said. “Bad news, actually.”

“What’s that?”

“We lost a big donor for the fundraiser. Did I tell you about the annual fundraiser?”

“You did. At dinner. Sounded important.”

“It is. And it just became more so.”

Jack nodded, listening intently.

Before Luke could say anything else, a familiar voice cut through the background buzz of the bistro.

“Jack! Howdy, stranger.”

Hallicks appeared at their table, his ever-present coffee in hand, his glasses already sliding down his nose. His eyes flicked from Jack to Luke with open curiosity.

“Dean Hallicks,” Jack said. “This is Luke Calder. We knew each other in high school, and we’ve been spending time together since I got back.”

Hallicks’ eyebrows went up. He looked at Luke with new interest; he couldn’t hide.

“Calder?” he repeated. "As in...?"

“Yes,” Luke said. “As in.”

“Well.” Hallicks extended his warm, firm hand. “Luke. I have to say, I know The Ridge. Everyone does. And the Calder family history—the silver strike, the mine, the whole saga—it’s one of Colorado’s great stories.”

Luke was used to strangers talking about his family history and not feeling much connection to it. So many generations had passed that it wasn’t much more than a story to him, either, but he didn’t mind the interest. And there was something endearing about Hallicks’ enthusiasm as he pulled up a chair without being invited and sat down, leaning toward Luke.

“Do you climb?" he asked. "Hike? I’m becoming obsessed with some of the trails I’ve read about that no one can find. They connected various settlements and strikes, but they’re lost to time. Maybe someone with your depth of knowledge could help us connect with the past and see what’s still there that might be valuable.”

Luke smiled and said, “I hike a little, but I'm no climber."